φύλαξ
Alt. φύ^λαξ, ακος,
Etym. φυλάσσω
I. "a watcher, guard, sentinel", Lat. excubitor, Hom., attic; οἱ φ. "the garrison", Thuc., Xen., etc.; φύλακες τοῦ σώματος body "guards", Plat.;—also as fem., κλῇς ἐπὶ γλώσσῃ φ. Soph., Eur., etc.
II. "a guardian, keeper, protector", Hes., etc.;—c. gen. objecti, φ. δορός "a protector against" it, the spear, Eur.
2. "an observer", τοῦ δόγματος Plat.; τοῦ ἐπιταττομένου Xen.
3. of things, φύλακες ἐπὶ τοῖς ὠνίοις, of the ἀγορανόμοι, Lys.